Lhd one of
prisms N, and N the
20.35. ELECTRO-OPTIC AND MAGNETO-OPTIC EFFECTS
Jsotropic transparent materials such as glass do not exhibit double
refraction under ordinary
circumstances. However, they acquire the optical properties offa uniaxial crystal under the
refraction. The
double refraction. action of
external| forces. Consequently, they exhibit appearance of double refraction
underthe influence of an external agent is
known as artificial double
optical axis in such materials willl be
be refraction or induced
birefringence. Thee direction of the collinear with the
direction
oftheexternalforce. The action of the external force is to cause distortion of the molecular arrangement
withinthe material and thereby transform the isotropic substance into an anisotropic substance. The
force ceases to act.
aduced birefringencedisappears as soon as the external
The materials which experience a change in their optical behaviour under the action of an
materials and the rresulting optical effects are known as electro-
clectricfielddare called electro-optic
materials that get influenced by a magnetic field are called magneto-
optic effects. Similarly, the
oie materials and the resulting optic effects are known as magneto-optic effects. The electro
technology.
cotic and magneto-opticmaterials play a very important role in modem
20.36. ELECTRO-OPTICEFFECTS
20.36.1 KERR EFFECT
Optical anisotropy induced in an isotropic liquid under the influence of an electric field is
known as the Kerr effect. John Kerr discovered it in 1875.
AKercellis requiredfor studying the efect. It consists of asealed glass cell flled with aliquid
comprising of asymmetricmolecules. Two plane electrodes of specificlength I are arranged in it
ih their faces strictly parallel to each other. When a voltage is applied to them a uniform electric
eld is produced in the cell. The Kerr cell is placed between a crossed polarizer system. Whem the
electric field issapplied, the molecules of the liquid tend to align along the field direction. As the
538 ATextbook of Optics
Plate Polarizer
electrodes
Polarizer Modulating
voltage
Fig. 20.75
liquid becomes doublee
alignment causes anisotropy andthe
molecules are asymmetric, the
refracting
The induced birefringence is proportional to the square of the applied electric field and to the
wavelength of incident light. Thus,
Au = KE? (20.64)
where K is known as the Kerr constant.
Among the liquids, nitrobenzene (CH,NO,) is found to have the highest value for the Ker
constant. therefore, Kerr cells use nitrobenzene.
Kerr cell is used as an electro-optic shutter in high-speed photography, as alight chopper in te
measurement of the speed of light.
20.36.2 POCKELS EFFECT
F. Pockels discovered in 1893 that the application of an electric field to piezoelectric crystals
makes them birefringent. Normally, piezoelectric crystals are birefringent but in certain directions
do not exhibit double [Link] an electric field is impressed along these directions,double
refraction is induced along these directions also.
Transparent
electrode
Crystal
Analyser
Polarizer Modulating
voltage
Fig. 20.76
Chapter:20 : Polarization 539
consists
of a piezoelectric crystal, for example lithium
Pockelscell niobate
A polarisers. Transparent electrodes (thin conducting coatings of tin oxide placed between
or indium) are
pasited
i onopposite sides ofthe crystal. The crystal is oriented in such a way that its optic axis lies
direction ofthe electric field applied between the electrodes. The transparent electrodes
the
phng
propagation of light through the crystal. APockels set up is shown in Fig.20.76.
tree
e
sure birefringence induced in the crystal is proportional to the strength of the
applied field.
The
Thus. Au = kE (20.65)
a
constant characteristic of the material. Equ. (20.65) shows that Pockels effect is a
wherekis
inear
eftect
total birefringence
of the cellis initially made equal to N2. When the electric field is
Thethebeamis
irased
transmittedor hindered depending on the phase difference between the o-ray
The device switches on and off periodically. Pockels cells are used in fast switching
e-ray.
nd din fibre
and optics. It can be used to obtain amplitude, frequency or phase modulation.
agplcations
Pockelscell is simple in
construction and requires asmall voltage of the order of 1.5 kV
A
a_Kerr
cell is complicated in construction and requires higher voltages of the order of 15
shere piezoelectric crystals of ammonium dihydrophosphate (ADP) and potassium
as
The cell.
tihydrophosphate (KDP) are widely used in Pockels
FL.
and Pockels cells are
widely used as electro-optic shutters in Q-switching of lasers.
Kerr
b037. MAGNETO-OPTICEFFECTS
037,1COTTON-MOUTON EFFECT
effect. An isotropic material acquires the optical
The Cotton-Mouton effect is a magneto-optican external magnetic field. The set up is shown in
ieur of a uniaxial crystal under the action of
Fg20.77.
Magnetic Modulating
field
Modulating
voltage HIC
Polarizer
Constantmagnetic
Polarizer field
Fig. 20.77
Theinduced I birefringence is governed bythe relation
Au = CB (20.66)
Where Cis a constant characteristic ofthe material. The magnitude of the induced birefringence
Lally very small.
540 ATextbook of Optics
20.37.2FARADAY EFFECT
the plane of
Optically inactive substances acquire the ability of rotating
when they are subjected to a magnetic field, parallel to propagation
discovered dielectric
this hence it is called Faraday
direction,
effect. This effect occurs in
polMiariscahaeltion Faraday
of igh
most opticfieltal
transparent effect materials
and (including liquids) when they are subject to sstrong magnetic
Iheset up for observing Faraday effect is shown in Fig.20./5.
S
G M A E
P M
L Faraday effect
Fig. 20.78
The angle of rotation 8 of the plane of polarisation is proportional to the length ofthe path of
material and to the strength of the applied magnetic field. Thus,
light inthe =VIH (20.67)
where Vis known as Verdet constant.
Fig. 20.79
0An
The angle 8 of rotation is not very large. For magnetic field strengths of the order of 1
and /=0.l m,0 is about 1° to 20,
efect.
One of the interesting problems encountered in satellite communications is theFaradayionised
As radio waves pass through the ionosphere, their bythe
plane of polarisation is rotated wave becomes
particles in conjunction with the Earth's magnetic field. A polarised sohedby
horizontally is
vertically polarised because of the Faraday rotation in the ionosphere. Thisi problemsatisfacton,
using an antenna with circular polarisation, which ensures that the waves areereceived
n0 matter how they have been
rotated.
